From left: Barbara Crawley, Latoya Durham and Pamela Hills, talk about the future of Wildwood, after casting their ballots in the election. Wildwood voters will cast ballots in tuesday's city commission election. Tuesday May 10, 2011. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)

From left: Barbara Crawley, Latoya Durham and Pamela Hills, talk about the future of Wildwood, after casting their ballots in the election. Wildwood voters will cast ballots in tuesday's city commission election. Tuesday May 10, 2011. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)

WILDWOOD - Mayor Gary DeMarzo lost his re-election bid Tuesday
night following a campaign that alternately focused on the cost of
the city's employees, currently facing 42 potential layoffs, and an
official misconduct charge the mayor is facing.

DeMarzo, first elected to City Commission in 2007, became mayor
in December 2009 after supporting the successful recall of
then-Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and Commissioner Bill Davenport. He
came in fourth in this election with 452 votes.

But on Tuesday, Troiano won another term on City Commission with
the most votes at 738, just 17 months after being recalled from
office.

"I feel somewhat vindicated," Troiano said as he and his running
mates, Peter Byron and Anthony Leonetti, celebrated their win at
the Bolero Resort. "But we have a lot of work ahead of us."

Troiano and DeMarzo agreed on little while serving on the
commission together, but on Tuesday night both said the indictment
against DeMarzo, which alleges he used city funds to pay for
private legal services, likely played only a small part in the
results.

"I don't think the indictment made a difference," Troiano said.
"The safety of the community - that is what people are concerned
about. You can't put a price on safety."

DeMarzo said he was a bit surprised by Tuesday's outcome, but he
also said the indictment, which was handed up by a grand jury in
March, was not behind Tuesday's results.

"It's my belief that it was strictly based on a monetary issue
driven by (city employees) where the municipality is the largest
employer," DeMarzo said.

DeMarzo, a former city police officer, supported the city's 2011
budget, which includes the layoffs of as many as 42 employees,
including 20 police officers and at least five firefighters.

The police and fire unions in the city had actively campaigned
against DeMarzo, questioning what effect the layoffs would have on
public safety.

DeMarzo said the city employees made use of fear and
intimidation to scare residents into believing their safety was at
risk.

"They are an intimidating bunch," DeMarzo said. "And again, they
are funded by the taxpayers. It will be interesting to see how that
$2 million hole will be filled."

However, city voters approved the ballot question that would
allow staffing levels within the Police Department to be
revised.

The city expected to cut $2 million from its budget with the
layoffs, which Troiano and his running mates oppose.

Byron said he was thrilled with his win.

"I think Wildwood really understands that we are truly at a
crossroads and they took the right direction," Byron said.

"I think the health and safety issue was huge," he added. "Plus,
we had a vision for the town. Our platform wasn't just lower taxes.
It was redeveloping the town.

Leonetti was happy to win in his first foray into politics.

"I can't stress how much we're going to work for the city," he
said.

DeMarzo's running mates, Commissioner Edward Harshaw and
first-time candidate Dara Baltuskonis, were disappointed with the
outcome, but Harshaw said he wished the winners good luck.

"They won. It is what it is," Baltuskonis said. "I'll be moving
because I can't afford him. My house will be going up for
sale."

Her team had campaigned with a focus on the city's spending and
tax rate under Troiano.

Baltuskonis said "a lot of fear and a lot of intimidation" by
police and fire employees who went door-to-door and at the polling
place was behind DeMarzo's defeat.

Police Lt. Christopher Howard, president of the local police
union, said Tuesday that the losing candidates' accusations were
off the mark.

"The election is over and the good hardworking people here have
voiced their opinion," Howard said."Throwing stones at this point
is just sour grapes."

Harshaw said the indictment may have played some role. "People
were uncomfortable with that. I don't know to what extent, but I
think what hurt more was the bickering between the mayor and
Commissioner Al Brannen," he said.

DeMarzo said he had been "completely honored" to serve on the
City Commission as a commissioner and mayor.

"My heart and soul goes to the city of Wildwood and anything I
can do to assist with the betterment of it will always be my goal,"
DeMarzo said.

A steady stream of voters made their way through the Wildwoods
Convention Center, the city's only polling place, throughout the
day.

"We need a change and change for the people for the better,"
said Pamela Hills, who lives in the 3rd District.

Her friends, Latoya Durham and Barbara Crawley also came to
vote.

"Lower taxes," Durham said of her interest in the day's voting
results. "And more things for the children." All three said they
made up their minds about who to vote for many weeks before the
election.

The city's reorganization will take place Tuesday, May 17, at
noon in City Hall.